Satire • Ms.
Jiminez (Erika Arias) is attacked by
four Latino “robots.” From
the left, The Farmer (Raul Granados),
Johnny Pachuco (Froylan Morales), Eric
Garcia, the Puerto Rican-American (José Rivera)
and The Revolutionary (Peter Araiza),
all characterizations of the stereotypical
Latinos sold at Honest Sancho’s
Used Latino Lot, were part of the Acto
presented at the Chicano/Latino Retention
Conference Thursday. In the past, Actos
served as a way to unionize Latino
farm workers and have become a Chicano
icon.
Jamie Rowe / Online Forty-Niner
Latino
conference highlights retention rates
By
Angelica de la Pena
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
More than 100 Cal State Long Beach students and faculty participated last Thursday
in a conference concerning retention rates among Latinos.
Latinos represent 26 percent of the student population, yet according to CSULB
data, graduation rates for Latinos are lower compared to other ethnic groups.
Latino faculty members, staff and students created a series of dialogues between
one another to address the issue. The dialogues began in August in an effort
to solidify an action plan pertaining to Latino success.
“
We needed to seriously sit down and discuss why this was an issue and what
needed to be done in order to resolve this issue,” said Pablo Ildefonso,
co-chairman of the Chicano/Latino Studies Student Association (ChiLeS).
During the conference, student members from Latino organizations presented
themes and solutions, including finance, information/awareness and campus alienation,
to address the barriers many Latino students face at CSULB.
The participants proposed the school help fund and establish a Centro of Excellence/Resource
Center for Latino students.
“
This Centro would be a visible place where Latinos could find support and guidance
concerning financial aid, an awareness of the different Latino support groups
and an outlet from campus alienation,” Ildefonso said. “In a commuter
college, it’s hard to find a solid connection within the community, especially
for Latino students who are faced with not just school life but also cultural,
social and economical barriers.”
Marisela Becerra, a CSULB freshman, attended the conference in support of the
proposed measures.
“
I think this is a really good idea because at the Centro for Excellence I will
be able to find services that can relate to me and my cultural background,” Becerra
said. “This would also be helpful for my mother because she can receive
support there, too.”
Becerra, along with many Latino students, is first generation and first in
her family to attend college.
“
This is all new for my mom and she doesn’t know how to help me or what
to expect, but the Centro would help her.”
CSULB Latino students and faculty are not the first to address the issue of
retention and propose action. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Pomona and UCLA
created Latino resource centers within their campuses to increase the success
rate for their students.
“
These schools have proven that it has helped their students,” said Naomi
Cruz, also co-chairwoman of ChiLeS. “So we’re asking the administration
why isn’t our campus doing something about it. The time is long over
due.”
During the conference, audience members addressed a five-member panel, including
CSULB President F. King Alexander and Grace Delgado, an associate professor
in the Chicano/Latino studies department, with their questions and concerns.
“
I think all these problems are important,” Alexander said. “Our
campus encourages establishing safety nets to catch students when they fall
out of the system.
I don’t have all the answers but I recognize that there needs to be an
important change.”
“
It’s been frustrating at times because we feel the administration is
hesitant,” Cruz said. “We are still hopeful because people are
now more aware about the importance of the resource center and are helping
to support our cause.”
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